 Shelly Fairchild tells you her history every time she sings.
Her voice conveys the blues of her Mississippi Delta home and the soulful power of a passionate woman who has been "singing with everything I've got" since she began performing as a child.
Her edgy style conveys the confidence of a small-town girl from Clinton, Miss., bold enough to head out on her own and earn lead roles in major musicals and national theatrical tours, yet sensitive enough to write heart-tugging stories about love and family as well as steamy tales about desire and living life to the hilt.
In other words, Shelly Fairchild is a force to be reckoned with - a fact made clear by [her] Columbia Records debut, Ride, a one-of-a-kind introduction that suggests this country singer won't be held back by pre-conceptions about Nashville or contemporary country music.
"I know I have a lot of edge to my voice - well, to everything I do," says Shelly. "But I've always considered myself a country singer.
Still, she concedes, her version of country music sometimes drags the music into the Delta swamp and sometimes fires it up like a heat-seeking missile. "I realize I might be pushing the envelope, because I have a lot of blues feeling and rock energy in my voice," she says. "That's just how it comes out for me. I've always sung with a lot of passion and emotion."
From uncompromising songs like the take-no-gruff first single, "You Don't Lie Here Anymore" to the upfront passion of "Kiss Me" and "Ready to Fall," and from the stomping power of "Down into the Muddy Water" and to the sensitivity of "Fear of Flying" and "I Want to Love You," Ride twists and turns as it follows Shelly from the country to the city, with her voice always the center of attention and her hands-on style always firmly in control.
With her energetic approach, Nashville has always been her destination. Not only does she love to perform and liven up a crowd, she also loves songs that speak of real-life issues and down-home values. Shelly co-wrote four songs on her album, including "You Don't Lie Here Anymore."
"This is a song I wrote early on so I am amazed and thrilled that it turned out to be my first single. I had the title and melody when I wrote it with Sonny Lemaire and Clay Mills. The first day we wrote the verse and chorus and I walked out saying 'This is going to be my first single', I just had a strong feeling about it."
She also drew strong material from some of Nashville's top writers, including Stephony Smith, Dennis Linde, Leslie Satcher, Darrell Scott, Doug Johnson and others - an unusual feat for a newcomer.
The fact that cream-of-the-crop writers gave her their top-drawer material illustrates the high regard Shelly has quickly attained among the Music Row elite - and that they know their songs will receive a powerful interpretation. "Songs are key to who I am and what I love about music," she says. "I like songs that say something, and that's why I love country music. There's no place that cares about emotional songwriting more than Nashville and country music. That's why I'm here."
On the other hand, as a music lover, Shelly knows what it's like to be in a crowd that feeds off the energy of a great live performance. "I love to have a good time," she says. "I like to make people dance. I like to make people scream a lyric if they want to sing with me. I think we all like to let go, forget our troubles and feel a little out of control for a while. I want to help people have that kind of experience."
Ride does just that - it will rev up listeners and take them on a trip full of passion, energy, desire and reflection. Hold onto your seats.
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